Spotlight on: Long Center for the Performing Arts

Built as a monument to the space age, the Palmer Auditorium sat on the south banks of Town Lake since 1959. Over the years, the auditorium housed many of Austin's biggest events, including performances from Elvis Presley and Bob Dylan. Then in May 1999, a $20 million donation from Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long allowed for the renovation of the outdated auditorium into a world-class performing arts center.

After a number of delays, the new Long Center is now projected to open in Fall 2007. The shell of the old building serves as framework for the new Long Center, which provides a much-needed venue for major and community-based performing arts organizations. Various elements of the old facility, including floor slabs, foundation and concrete perimeter beams are being reused or recycled.

The initial phase of the 54-acre project includes two theatres. Performances by Austin Symphony Orchestra, Ballet Austin and Austin Lyric Opera will fill the larger 2,300-seat hall. Sound engineers expect acoustics in this hall to surpass that of any performance center in the region.

As a meeting and event venue, the smaller theatre holds 250 seats with flexible seating arrangements, which make it ideal for small arts organizations and special functions.

Future expansion includes a mid-sized theater with more than 700 seats. The plan anticipates growing from the center outward, so that future construction has a minimum impact on the Long Center's initial components.

Head for these Hills

Big Easy's Musicians Move Their Acts to Austin

Sales & Marketing Management

Long Center for the
Performing Arts